Petunia Plant Named Michel

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named `Michel`, characterized by its bright red flowers; floriferous with numerous flowers per plant; early flowering; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; spreading plant habit and freely branching; strong, healthy foliage; and moderate tolerance to rain, drought and temperature extremes.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia axillaris, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name Michel.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Scharrachbergheim, France. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new Petunia cultivars having desirable flowercolors, small leaves, and strong healthy foliage and plants.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of theinventor's proprietary Petunia selection No. 94H, as the male or pollenparent, with the Petunia cultivar Surfinia Shihi Purple (not patented),as the female or seed parent, in June, 1993.

The cultivar Michel was discovered and selected by the inventor inNovember, 1993, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Scharrachbergheim, France. Asexualreproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atScharrachbergheim, France, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

The cultivar Michel has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Scharrachbergheim,France, under commercial production conditions.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Michel`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Michel` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Bright red flowers that are slightly serrated.

2. Floriferous with numerous flowers per plant.

3. Early flowering.

4. Vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.

5. Spreading plant habit and very freely branching.

6. Strong, healthy foliage.

7. Moderately tolerant to rain, drought and temperature extremes.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typicalhanging basket plant of the cultivar Michel.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of individual flowers ofthe cultivar Michel. Flower and foliage colors in the photographs mayappear different than the actual colors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were grown in glass-covered greenhouses during the summer inScharrachbergheim, France. Measurements are averages or ranges from tenspecimens selected at random from five plants.

Botanical Classification: Petunia axillaris cultivar Michel.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Inventor's Petunia axillaris proprietaryselection selection No. 94H.

Female or seed parent.--Petunia axillaris cultivar Surfinia Shihi Purple(not patented).

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate and develop roots.--About ten days at 20C soiltemperature.

Rooting habit.--Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant Description:

Form.--Indeterminate, decumbent, diffuse spreading, viscid, glandularpubescent.

Branching habit.--Very freely branching, usually about 8 branches perstem.

Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).--About 8 cm.

Spreading area of plant.--About 16 cm.

Vigor.--Vigorous, moderate growth rate.

Crop time.--10 to 12 weeks from a unrooted cutting to produce a finishedand flowering 12.5-cm container.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and longpersisting. Leaves at first whorled, later alternate, somewhat fleshy.Size: Juvenile: Length: 3 to 4 cm. Width: 1.5 to 2 cm. Mature: Length:6.5 to 7.5 cm. Width: 3.5 to 4.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: Young foliage upper side:137C. Young foliage under side: 137D. Mature foliage upper side: 137B.Mature foliage under side: 137C.

Stem description.--Diameter: 3 to 4 mm.

Internode length.--2 to 4 cm. Color: 137C. Texture: Very pubescent.

Flower Description:

Flower type and habit.--Large, single, salverform flowers, facingupwards, axillary. Calyx five-parted, petals united into a flower tube.

Natural flowering season.--Long day responsive, continuously flowersfrom spring through fall. Flowers self-cleaning.

Quantity.--Numerous flowers per plant.

Flower bud.--Length: 4.5 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.

Corolla.--Diameter: 6.5 to 7.5 cm. Height: 5.5 to 6.5 cm. Petalquantity: Five, fused. Petal apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire, slightlyserrated and undulating. Texture: Velvety, smooth and shiny. Color:Petal color, abaxial surface: 45D. Petal color, adaxial surface: 47D.Petal vein color, abaxial surface: 45B. Petal vein color, adaxialsurface: 47C.

Sepals.--Quantity: Five. Shape: Linear to oblong. Apex: Obtuse to acute.Margin: Slightly lobed. Aspect: Upright. Color: Abaxial surface: 137C.Adaxial surface: 137D.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Erect. Size: Length: 2 to 3 cm. Width: About 1 mm.Color: 137D.)

Reproductive organs.--Stigma above anthers, superior ovary. Stamens:Stamen number: Five. Anther size: About 2 mm, generally larger thanother varieties. Anther color: 14D. Pistils: Stigma color: 137A. Stylelength: About 2.3 cm.

Disease Resistance: Resistance to phytopathogens has not been notedunder commercial conditions.

Seed production: Rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named`Michel`, as illustrated and described.